Riva is a side tank engine that operates on the Omaha Zoo Railway.
History[]
Riva was built at Krauss works in Linz: Austria. Its first owner was the M.A.R. (Mori–Arco–Riva del Garda) Railway in northern Italian region of Trentino-South Tyrol, where it served as number 2 alongside two identical sister engines, "Arco" and "Lago di Garda". The railway was closed when Italy entered the World War I in 1915. The railway was on the front line and then sustained heavy damage, while "Riva" was sent to work on the Heeresfeldbahn (field military railways) in the Eastern front. From 1918 to 1941 it served an industrial railway in Stryj, Poland. The Second World War brought another stint in military duty before the engine finally ended up on the State Railways of Romania (CFR) as number 395–104.
"Riva" operated on the CFR's Alba Julia–Zlatna line until 1968, when it was finally retired and sold to Plasser and Theurer, an Austria-based builder of track maintenance machinery. Fortunately for the little engine, an American representative of Plasser and Theurer became aware of the Omaha Zoo's search for a second locomotive, and in 1974 arrangements were made for "Riva" to be donated to the zoo. Restoration took place in the Union Pacific's Omaha shops. The overhaul consisted of major running gear work, the installation of American air brake equipment, and conversion from coal to oil firing. The locomotive was then painted, and missing parts such as the headlights and bell were replaced. The reborn "Riva" entered service at the zoo in 1976 during the annual Family Night/Members' Day event, and has operated almost every year since. A major multi-year overhaul took place in the early 1990s and another in 2000–2002. During the winter and spring of 2005, the water tanks were replaced and the air tanks (added in 1976) were moved to a concealed location, returning the engine to a more historically correct appearance. The engine lost its light green and black paint scheme and was repainted all dark green with maroon wheels. The engine was given a new bell in 2013.
In 2023, the engine was repainted all black with white lining and its headlights on its pilot were removed. In 2024, one of the engine's headlights that was on its pilot was moved on top of the smokebox where the bell was and the bell was coiled under the smokebox, meaning you can hear the bell, but you just can't see it. Most recently, in 2025, the engine had its original whistle replaced a new Powell single chime whistle. This was due to its original whistle being too loud and rather unfriendly to people's ears, mostly for people waiting at crossings for the train to pass by.
Trivia[]
- The engine is the oldest of all the locomotives operating on the Omaha Zoo Railroad.